Luke Griffiths: This play has been in the works since December so it’s wonderful to be finally able to put it on

Porcus Productions are taking ADAM, an absurd government that rules the empire with an iron fist, to Edinburgh Fringe in the form of new play, Pigs in Blankets. Produced by Agnes Carrington-Windo, directed and written by Luke Griffiths, the performances are at Paradise in the Vault on Merchant Street for the month of August.

Luke spoke with The Fountain about the premise, the influence and what we can look forward to from them beyond Pigs in Blankets.

TF: You are performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, how exciting?

We’re so looking forward to it – this play has been in the works since December so it’s wonderful to be finally able to put it on.

TF: Pigs in Blankets certainly sounds intriguing, what is the premise, do you both have an interest in politics and satire?

It’s about an authoritarian government – the Council of ADAM, and an attempt by two people (Jenny and George) to overthrow them. So yes, it’s quite political. We didn’t set out to lampoon any particular government in the script, but through the rehearsal process we’ve ended up adding quite a few references to various political leaders. The political situation is pretty ridiculous in a lot of countries at the moment so those jokes sort of write themselves when you’ve got leaders like Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un running around.

TF: And what drove the project, where did your influences lie?

This play has grown out of one we performed at the RAG Factory in December, which was only twenty-five minutes, and featured the Council of ADAM along with various other characters. It was called What’s the Point in Anything and was more ridiculing bureaucracy than politics. We got attached to ADAM and the audience seemed to enjoy their scenes the most. So Luke, the writer, decided to focus on them and develop their story, and this is the product of that.

TF: What are your plans for the Fringe, have you been before?

Luke hasn’t, but the director, Agnes, has with a production of The Canterbury Tales in 2015, and a few other times just to watch shows. This is a first for both of us though when it comes to organising everything and being responsible for how it goes!

TF: And what are your future plans beyond Pigs in Blankets?

We’ve got a sketch show happening after the Fringe – on one day in November, and then again in December. So look out for Porcus Productions at The Water Rats in King’s Cross!